Planning Pool

…the second video is plucked from BestOfYoutube, and while it might be a long way from ever being realized, the idea of a train that never has to make intermediate station stops is pretty intriguing. Of course, it’s not hard to imagine many of the potential dangers, but the concept seems a logical solution to one of the biggest challenges in streamlining commuter rail – minimizing station time. Anyway, take a peek and share your thoughts…
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A few interesting articles related to globalization showed up in Planetizen this week that I just had to share. Inside: If location doesn’t matter anymore, then why do cities keep growing? India’s Tata is building $10,000 condos! Should immigrants be brought in to take care of fixer-upper neighbourhoods in the USA?

Autopia has arrived in India.  Yesterday, Tata Motors introduced the long-awaited Nano, a tiny car with an equally diminutive sticker-price.  At just under $2,300US, the idea is to shift urban Indians from motos to four-wheelers.  The cars, which are already in high-demand, get around 55 mpg and produce less CO2 than the average motorcycle.  Still, many are unhappy about this development, primarily because it further embeds the desire for private vehicles and Indian cities are already plenty congested.  Environmentalists might be a little more enthused if the Nano used something other than petroleum, despite its relative efficiency.  Also, Tata has a less-than-sparkling reputation within India.

While I share the reservations many are feeling toward India’s new automotive independence, the Nano represents  an unfortunately necessary step in the country’s rapid … Continue Reading